Weekends always seem to go quickly, but they’re longer than we think. There are 60 hours between that 6 p.m. Friday beer and that 6 a.m. Monday alarm clock. Even if you sleep for 24 of those hours, that leaves 36 waking ones. That’s plenty of time for fun, relaxation and more importantly, recharging the batteries. In our competitive world, successful people know that great weekends are the secret to workday success. You want weekends that leave you refreshed, not exhausted or disappointed, so you can hit Monday ready to go.
周末似乎總是過(guò)得特別快,但其實(shí)周末遠(yuǎn)比我們認(rèn)為得長(zhǎng)。若從周五18:00到下周一6:00計(jì)算,周末一共有60個(gè)小時(shí)的時(shí)間;扣除24小時(shí)的睡眠時(shí)間,還剩下36小時(shí)——這段時(shí)間足夠用來(lái)放松、玩樂(lè)或補(bǔ)充能量。當(dāng)今社會(huì)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)激烈,只有周末休息好,才能保證工作日精力充沛。周末就應(yīng)該用來(lái)充電調(diào)息,這樣下周才能精神煥發(fā)地投入工作。

Here are 10 tips for making the most of your days off:
怎樣最大化利用周末?請(qǐng)看下面10個(gè)小貼士:

1. Do make a plan.
制定計(jì)劃。

We’re all busy. When we hit the weekend, we think we want to do “nothing.” But it’s impossible to truly do nothing. Instead, you’ll do unconsciously chosen somethings, and you’ll hit Sunday wondering where the time went. As children staring at wrapped Christmas presents know, anticipation accounts for much of the pleasure we derive from any experience. So make a plan for how you want to spend the weekend and--even if all goes wrong in the moment--you’ll still derive pleasure from anticipating your fun.
我們都很忙,只想到了周末能啥事都不用干,但現(xiàn)實(shí)卻不可能真讓我們“無(wú)所事事”,因此很多人會(huì)無(wú)意識(shí)地瞎忙,一晃周末就這么虛度過(guò)去了??释フQ禮物的小孩都知道,預(yù)先提出期望更能實(shí)現(xiàn)愿望。同理,你也應(yīng)該制定“周末期望”,就算到時(shí)候有所變化也會(huì)充滿樂(lè)趣。

2. Don’t fill every minute.
切忌時(shí)間太緊湊。

Just because you’ve got a plan doesn’t mean the weekends need to look like your weekdays, scheduled in 15-minute increments. Three to five “anchor” events--things you look forward to--can make for an excellent weekend. Go for a run, volunteer at a local food bank, and have dinner with friends and you’ll have done plenty.
定計(jì)劃并不是要將周末搞得像工作日似的,每時(shí)每刻都高效運(yùn)行。選定自己喜歡的三五件事,比如跑步、救濟(jì)中心做義工或跟朋友喝兩杯,也能把周末過(guò)得有滋有味。

3. Do stretch yourself occasionally.
偶爾舒展筋骨。

Weekends are great for exploring. Make a bucket list of activities you’d like to try within a two-hour radius of your house. Maybe it’s biking along the boardwalk. Maybe it’s camping in a nearby park. Whatever it is, remember that life can’t just happen on vacations, so invite in some serendipity.
周末是“探險(xiǎn)”的好時(shí)光。列出清單,寫(xiě)出家附近兩小時(shí)范圍內(nèi)你樂(lè)意嘗試的事情,比如沿路騎游或在附近公園露營(yíng),隨時(shí)給自己找點(diǎn)意外驚喜,誰(shuí)說(shuō)只有度假才算真正享受呢!

4. Don’t forget to exercise.
別忘了鍛煉身體。

One famous study of Texas women’s days found that--after sex, eating, and relaxing--they were happiest when exercising, socializing, and engaging in spiritual activities. Why not aim for anchor events in all three categories?
一項(xiàng)針對(duì)德克薩斯州女性的調(diào)查發(fā)現(xiàn),除了享受美食、放松和性生活,另外最令她們開(kāi)心的就是運(yùn)動(dòng)、交際和充實(shí)內(nèi)心。既然如此,何不全都付諸行動(dòng)呢?

5. Do schedule downtime.
留出無(wú)聊時(shí)間。

In our distracted world, we have a tendency to putter around the house, turn on the TV, check email and otherwise fill time with things that don’t really relax us. If you want to take a nap on Sunday afternoon, figure out when that’s going to happen, if there are any logistical issues you need to solve, and then commit to doing it.
周?chē)菀滓鸱中牡臇|西太多,我們總?cè)滩蛔≡谖堇镫S意亂晃、看看電視、查收郵件或干點(diǎn)別的打發(fā)時(shí)間,而這些事情往往并不能讓我們放松。所以,如果你想周日下午打個(gè)盹,最好掐好時(shí)間,如果還有沒(méi)搞定的瑣事,還是先處理完再午睡吧。

6. Don’t give in to the Sunday-night blues.
警惕周日綜合癥。

Even if you like your job, it’s easy to feel weary by Sunday afternoon as you think about the next morning’s commute. One way around that? Schedule something fun for Sunday night. Knowing you’ve got a potluck dinner or a massage session coming up extends the weekend by keeping your mind focused on the fun to come.
就算你喜歡工作,周日下午一想到第二天得上班難免也會(huì)感到厭煩。那怎么辦?周日晚上做點(diǎn)有趣的事情,多想想晚上的家常便飯或舒心按摩,想到周末仍在延續(xù),心情自然會(huì)好起來(lái)。

7. Do make the most of other people’s schedules.
融通他人周末計(jì)劃。

Read a novel instead of checking your email while waiting to pick up your 8-year-old at swim practice. If your spouse has a time-consuming hobby--like one that requires you to supply sports drinks at the 10-mile mark on her long run--make sure to combine it with something fun for you (catching a movie at a nearby theater?).
8歲兒子有游泳課?與其查收郵件,不如在等兒子時(shí)閱讀小說(shuō);如果伴侶的愛(ài)好比較耗時(shí)間,比如需要你給遠(yuǎn)在10英里外跑步的她送飲料,你可以順便給自己找點(diǎn)樂(lè)子,就近看場(chǎng)電影等等。

8. Don’t do too many chores.
別被家務(wù)纏身。

Chores expand to fill the available space. If you do them on weekdays, you’ll spend less time doing chores simply because you have less time. Better to spend your weekends checking out a new neighborhood cafe than chained to the washing machine.
家務(wù)放在邊角時(shí)間做吧,工作日的時(shí)候也可以分擔(dān)一點(diǎn),這樣周末就不用花太多時(shí)間忙家務(wù)了。周末大好時(shí)光,與其守著洗衣機(jī),不如跟新鄰居喝杯咖啡呢!

9. Do spend some time planning your week.
花點(diǎn)時(shí)間制定下周計(jì)劃。

On Sunday night, or some other quiet time, glance at your calendar, and set goals for what you’d like to accomplish in your professional and personal life over the next 168 hours. Schedule these high-value activities in. Once Monday morning hits, you’re in a firefight. So figure out how you’ll advance your troops, rather than just hunkering down.
周日晚上或其他安靜的時(shí)候,你需要翻開(kāi)日歷,為下周設(shè)定一些工作或生活目標(biāo),計(jì)劃一些有意義的活動(dòng),然后一到周一立刻全身心投入。不要只躺在舒適區(qū),趕緊考慮一下個(gè)人發(fā)展問(wèn)題吧。

10. Don’t work every minute.
切忌分秒必爭(zhēng)地工作。

Sure, successful people work a bit on weekends, but they know that weekends are mostly about giving the brain a break. Even if you’re not religious, challenge yourself to keep a Sabbath of sorts: one 24-hour period where you don’t do any of your usual work. You may find yourself so relaxed you’ll look forward to Monday.
當(dāng)然,成功的人周末也會(huì)工作,不過(guò)他們也懂得周末最重要的是讓大腦休息。就算你不信教,也可以騰出“安息日”之類的時(shí)間:在這段時(shí)間,絕對(duì)不碰與工作有關(guān)的任何事情。這樣做以后,你會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)自己完全得到了放松,甚至有點(diǎn)期待周一的到來(lái)呢!